Crutch



(No Model.) A J. W. HO-WGATE.

GRUTGH.

4 No. 415,511. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HOVGATE, OF YVILMINGTON, DELAlYARE.

CRUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,511, dated November19, 1889.

Application filed August 17, 1889. Serial No. 321,073. (No model.)

- vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved crutch. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower part or foot of thesame. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of said lower part orfoot. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 00 so in Fig. 3; andFig. 5 is a perspective View of the sliding and adjustable sleevedetached from the foot of which it forms a part.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to crutches of that type which are provided witha spur projecting from the lower end of the foot, which said spur may becovered, when not in use, by a sliding sleeve, the lower end of which isshod with rubber or similar material forming the shoe of the crutch; andmy improvement consists in the peculiar construction of the sliding andadjustable foot-sleeve and its combination with the spurred end of thecrutch, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, the letter Adesignates the body of the crutch, which may be of any approvedconstruction, and B the lower part or stick of the same. The bottom partof the latter, which forms the foot of the crutch, is provided with acentral downwardly-projecting spur O, and also with a metallic sleeve orbushing D. A stout pin E is inserted transversely through this sleeve D,and the footpiece B with its ends projecting at right a11- gles onopposite sides, as shown in the drawings.

Encircling the fixed foot-sleeve D is another sliding sleeve F, thelower end of which is enlarged and formed with an inner annular recessf, into which is inserted and suitably fastened the elastic shoe G, ofrubber or other suitable material.

The sliding sleeve F has near its upper end two spiral-formed parallelslots H and H, each of which makes a complete turn around the sleeve andis provided at its upper end or starting-point with a notch or recess h.Through these slots H and 11 project the opposite ends of the transversepin E, one end on each side, and it follows that when sleeve F is turnedor rotated upon the fixed foot-sleeve D it will be raised or loweredupon the same according to the direction in which it is turned. When thesleeve is turned down so that the rubber shoe G at its lower end shallcover and protect the fixed spur O, the projecting ends of the pin Ewill drop down into and interlock with therecesses h at the upper endsof the spiral slots, and thereby hold the sliding sleeve rigidly in itsadjusted position covering the spur. WVhen, on the other hand, is isdesired to use the crutch with the spur exposed, (as when walking overice or other slippery surfaces,) all that is necessary is to push thesleeve up a little, so as to disengage pin E from its interlockingnotches h, and then revolve the sleeve, so as to slide it up upon thefoot end of the crutch, and thereby expose the spur through the centralaperture in the rubber shoe.

I am aware that crutches of this type have before been made with asliding sleeve adapted to cover a spur at the lower end of the crutchand provided with a so-called bayonet-catch for locking the sleeve inplace. This construction, however, I do not claim; but,

What I claim my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

- The combination, in a crutch, of the foot B, having spur O and fixedsleeve D, the transverse pin E, the sliding foot-sleeve F, having anannular recess f and provided with the parallel spiral slots H H, havingnotches or In testimony that I claim the foregoing as recesses h, andthe elastic shoe G, fitted into my own I have hereunto affixed mysignature the annular recess in the lower end of the in presence of twoWitnesses.

sliding sleeve and having a central aperture JOSEPH \V. HOYVGATE. 5registering with the fixed spur, substantially \Vitnesses:

as and for the purpose herein shown and set J 0S. I-I. KIRK,

forth. GEORGE ABELE.

